LAKE OZARK, Mo. — It's a massive boost for the Lake of the Ozarks economy: every September, motorcyclists gather at the Lake for an annual five-day event known as Bikefest. The economic impact is in the millions of dollars, just as the busy boating season is winding down.
But with an estimated 100,000 motorcycles (or more) cruising the Lake area and gathering en masse at several popular spots, local law enforcement work overtime. And nowhere is the concentration of bikers greater than in Lake Ozark, on the historic Bagnell Dam Strip.
Lake Ozark Police Chief James Boren says most Bikefest attendees are law-abiding and supportive of law enforcement.
However, a minority are ready to cause trouble. Outlaw biker gangs known as "one percenters" are among the many groups that gather for Bikefest.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers watch the crowd at Bikefest
So law enforcement has developed a monitoring strategy on the Strip. Cameras up and down the Strip feed to an "Intel Station." There, law enforcement keep an eye out for accidents, and they also monitor the movement of one-percenter groups: if it looks like two groups might be coming in contact with each other, officers flood the area. Boren said that strategy helps maintain order.
"Often times when we see the most problems with these big events is when we don’t have enough officers to discourage the would-be problem-makers," Boren told LakeExpo.
But beyond the conflicts, much of the work for law enforcement and emergency responders is in handling the inevitable accidents. Sometimes it's a biker who missed a curve in the road. Last weekend, one motorcyclist's sweater got caught in the vehicle's rear tire, causing a wreck, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Boren reported that the city saw 13 motorcycle crashes on Saturday, Sept. 14, with some handled by local police and others by the Highway Patrol. But he said one trend is certain: the accidents tend to increase after dark.
In one serious incident during Bikefest weekend, a biker performing a burnout on the Bagnell Dam Strip lost control and crashed into a crowd. Several people were hit and at least one was hospitalized.
In a separate incident, Boren said a motorcyclist struck a pedestrian on the Strip. First responders performed CPR and resuscitated the pedestrian before rushing them to the hospital.
"We welcome bikers to the Lake," said Lake Ozark Mayor Dennis Newberry. "It’s great for the economy and we know they all have a great time."
He added, "We appreciate our law enforcement for the way they work with attendees and manage any incidents that do occur. Chief Boren and Detective Kordula have been on our department for a long time. They have an approach to events that is very disciplined, allowing everyone to have some fun but make sure safety is still at the forefront. Having discretion as an officer is an important skill, and our officers have clearly adopted the right way to handle events."
